Bloggers’ Free Speech Rights Under Attack

Bloggers’ Free Speech Rights Under Attack

Free speech is under attack. Conservative writers are now facing threats against themselves, their families, and their livelihoods merely because they've aggressively investigated the history and funding of radical liberals.

Ali Akbar is president of the National Bloggers Club, a coalition of 300 conservative bloggers who reach millions of readers, has been targeted by these vicious attacks on himself and, even worse, his family.

Akbar has seen his mother's home photographed and placed on the internet. He has also received formal notification that he may soon be sued for publishing truthful information about radical liberals and their wealthy donors.

The ACLJ will be providing legal representation to Akbar and his organization of conservative bloggers who are facing threats and intimidation tactics by those opposed to their viewpoint. We will aggressively defend their constitutionally-protected free speech rights from these unwarranted attacks.

As Akbar told the ACLJ, "I'm grateful for the support of the ACLJ, and I'm confident we'll defeat any and all legal challenges to our fundamental right to free speech. We will not be deterred in our quest for the truth."

In addition, a number of conservative bloggers have been targeted with a dangerous and illegal tactic that's become known as SWAT-ing - (making false 911 calls sending police to the homes of bloggers, claiming a crime has occurred.) The tactic has been used in retaliation for posts that conservative bloggers have written.

SWAT-ing and other intimidation tactics to silence conservative viewpoints are quickly becoming a favorite tool of the radical left.

Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) has recognized this growing problem and is calling on Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate the SWAT-ting cases to see if federal laws have been violated. In a letter to the Attorney General, Sen. Chambliss wrote:

Any potentially criminal action that incites fear, seeks to silence a dissenting opinion, and collaterally wastes the resources of law enforcement should be given close scrutiny at all levels. . . . Regardless of any potential political differences that may exist, threats and intimidation have no place in our national political discourse.

The ACLJ has a long history of successfully defending free speech, and we look forward to defeating this latest attempt to threaten and intimidate conservatives into silence.

The situation for Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has taken a dire turn. After a brutal home raid where he was attacked and arrested, Pastor Youcef has been imprisoned again, far away from his family. We recently told you how Iranian authorities in plain clothes violently beat Pastor Youcef in his home...

In a major development, American Pastor Andrew Brunson has been moved from the Turkish prison to his house in Turkey. The ACLJ represents the family of Pastor Andrew – a U.S. citizen from Black Mountain, North Carolina – who has spent nearly 21 months imprisoned in Turkey because of his Christian...

Big Abortion is launching a massive propaganda campaign to activate its supporters and attack life. Planned Parenthood has rolled out an online initiative it calls “Unstoppable” – featuring pro-abortion artists and celebrities, and urging its supporters to sign an abortion “manifesto.” The intent...

For decades public sector employees have been forced to subsidize public sector unions and their political and ideological agenda. No more. In a major victory for free speech and free association, the Supreme Court has just struck down requirements that force public sector employees to pay fees to...

The ACLJ today filed a request that the Supreme Court hear an important free speech case, Keister v. Bell . At stake in the case is the freedom of people to speak on sidewalks along public streets. "What?" you say. "I thought Americans already had the right to speak freely on public sidewalks." So...

In the 1958 horror movie, "The Blob," a growing reddish blob from outer space devours everyone it touches. Echoing that film, a panel of judges of a federal appeals court ruled that the campus of the University of Alabama, home of the Crimson Tide, devours the speech rights of those on the...

It took many years to resolve. But I am delighted to report that we have just obtained a resounding victory in our legal challenge to the IRS’s political targeting of conservative organizations. In an unprecedented victorious conclusion to our four year-long legal battle against the IRS, the...

The ACLJ is an organization dedicated to the defense of constitutional liberties secured by law.

American Center for Law and Justice is a d/b/a for Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism,
Inc., a tax-exempt, not-for-profit, religious corporation as defined under Section 501(c)(3)
of the Internal Revenue Code, specifically dedicated to the ideal that religious freedom and
freedom of speech are inalienable, God-given rights. The Center's purpose is to engage legal,
legislative and cultural issues by implementing an effective strategy of advocacy, education
and litigation to ensure that those rights are protected under the law. The organization has
participated in numerous cases before the Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeals, Federal
District Courts, and various state courts regarding freedom of religion and freedom of speech.
Your gift is very much appreciated and fully deductible as a charitable contribution. A copy
of our latest financial report may be obtained by writing to us at P.O. Box 90555, Washington,
DC 20090-0555.